Seal assembly for chute gap leakage reduction in a gas turbine

Abstract

Various embodiments include gas turbine seals and methods of forming such seals. In some cases, a turbine includes: a first arcuate component adjacent to a second arcuate component, each arcuate component including a slot including one or more slot segments located in an end face and a seal assembly disposed in the slot. The seal assembly including a plurality of seal segments forming at least one T-junction where a first seal segment intersects a second seal segment and at least one shim seal. The plurality of seal segments define at least one chute gap. The at least one shim seal disposed in a slot proximate the at least one T-junction of the plurality of seal segments. The at least one shim seal positioned on a sidewall of the second seal segment and extending a partial length of the sidewall. The at least one shim seal seals the at least one chute gap to prevent a flow therethrough of a gas turbine hot gas path flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A seal assembly to seal a gas turbine hot gas path flow in a gas turbine, the seal assembly comprising:
 a segmented seal comprising at least a first seal segment and a second seal segment, the second seal segment having a first face, a second face, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the first seal segment intersecting and extending transverse to the first face of the second seal segment such that at least one T-junction is formed at the intersection, and such that the first seal segment and the second seal segment at least partially define at least one chute gap; and 
 at least one shim seal comprising a plurality of shim seal segments, the at least one shim seal positioned within a slot including a plurality of slot segments defined proximate the at least one T-junction, such that the at least one shim seal contacts at least a length of the sidewall of the second seal segment to seal the at least one chute gap to reduce or eliminate a flow of the gas turbine hot gas path flow therethrough. 
 
     
     
       2. The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shim seal comprises a geometric bump-out extending between and coupled to a plurality of leg portions of the at least one shim seal, the plurality of leg portions extending a first distance away from the sidewall, the geometric bump-out extending a second distance away from the sidewall, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
       3. The seal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the geometric bump-out is adapted to deform. 
     
     
       4. The seal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the geometric bump-out comprises at least one of: a plurality of planar sidewalls, a waveform sidewall, a serrated sidewall, or a curved sidewall. 
     
     
       5. The seal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of leg portions is fixedly secured to the sidewall of the second seal segment. 
     
     
       6. The seal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of leg portions is slideably movable along the sidewall. 
     
     
       7. The seal assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of leg portions are friction fit between the sidewall and a sidewall defining the slot. 
     
     
       8. The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shim seal is moveable independently of at least one other shim seal. 
     
     
       9. The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first seal segment is moveable independently of the second seal segment. 
     
     
       10. The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first seal segment and the second seal segment are one of: 
       a spline seal, a solid seal, a laminate seal, or a shaped seal. 
     
     
       11. The seal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the chute gap is defined between the first seal segment, the second seal segment, and the slot when the first seal segment and the second seal segment are within the slot, and wherein the at least one shim seal is positioned within the chute gap defined between the first seal segment, the second seal segment, and the slot when the first seal segment and the second seal segment are within the slot. 
     
     
       12. A gas turbine comprising:
 a first arcuate component adjacent to a second arcuate component, each arcuate component including a slot defined in an end face, each slot including one or more slot segments, each slot segment including one or more axial surfaces and one or more radial surfaces extending from the one or more axial surfaces, the one or more slot segments defining one or more T-junctions; and 
 a seal assembly positioned in the slot of the first arcuate component and the slot of the second arcuate component, the seal assembly comprising: a segmented seal comprising at least a first seal segment and a second seal segment, the second seal segment having a first face, a second face, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the first seal segment intersecting and extending away from the first face of the second seal segment such that at least one T-junction is formed at the intersection, and such that the first seal segment and the second seal segment at least partially define at least one chute gap; and 
 at least one shim seal positioned in at least one of the slot of the first arcuate component and the slot of the second arcuate component proximate the at least one T-junction, the at least one shim seal contacting a length of the sidewall of the second seal segment, such that the at least one shim seal seals the at least one chute gap to facilitate preventing a flow of a gas turbine hot gas path flow therethrough. 
 
     
     
       13. The gas turbine of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one shim seal includes a geometric bump-out extending between, and integrally formed with, a plurality of leg portions. 
     
     
       14. The gas turbine of  claim 13 , wherein the geometric bump-out is deformable. 
     
     
       15. The gas turbine of  claim 13 , wherein the geometric bump-out comprises at least one of a plurality of planar sidewalls, a waveform sidewall, a serrated sidewall, or a curved sidewall. 
     
     
       16. The gas turbine of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of leg portions is coupled to the sidewall of the second seal segment. 
     
     
       17. The gas turbine of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of leg portions is slideably moveable move along the sidewall of the second seal segment. 
     
     
       18. The gas turbine of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of leg portions are friction fit between a slot sidewall and the sidewall of the second seal segment. 
     
     
       19. The gas turbine of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first seal segment and the second seal segment is one of: a spline seal, a solid seal, a laminate seal, or a shaped seal. 
     
     
       20. A method of assembling a seal in a turbine, the method comprising:
 forming a seal assembly, the forming including: 
 providing a segmented seal including at least a first seal segment and a second seal segment, wherein the second seal segment includes a first face, a second face, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the first seal segment extending away from the first face of the second seal segment such that at least one T-junction is formed at the intersection, and wherein the first seal segment and the second seal segment at least partially define at least one chute gap; 
 providing at least one shim seal including a plurality of shim seal segments oriented proximate the at least one T-junction, such that the at least one shim seal contacts a length of the sidewall of the second seal segment; and 
 applying the seal assembly to the turbine, such that the seal assembly is inserted into a slot defined in at least a first arcuate turbine component that is adjacent to a second arcuate turbine component, and wherein the: 
 at least one shim seal seals the at least one chute gap to prevent a flow of a gas turbine hot gas path flow therethrough. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one shim seal comprises a geometric bump-out extending between a plurality of leg portions. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one shim seal is adapted to one of: deform via compression, or slideably moving relative to the sidewall of the second seal segment.